Punjab returns SYL canal fund of Rs 192 crore to Haryana

As per the decision of Punjab cabinet to return all funds received by the state from Haryana for the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the Punjab government on Wednesday despatched a cheque of Rs 191.75 crore to Haryana government.

As per the decision of Punjab cabinet to return all funds received by the state from Haryana for the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the Punjab government on Wednesday despatched a cheque of Rs 191.75 crore to Haryana government.

Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, in a demi official letter to his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar, apprised him about the council of ministers’ decision to return the entire fund received by Punjab from Haryana for the SYL canal, a spokesperson of the CM’s office said.

“I am, therefore enclosing herewith a cheque bearing No’ 997640 for an amount of Rs 191.75 crore”, said the letter written by Badal to Haryana CM.

The decades-long legal dispute between Punjab and Haryana on the sharing of river waters is back in the spotlight.

This week, the Supreme Court resumed hearings on the validity of the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act of 2004.

The Punjab cabinet had on Tuesday approved to return the entire money which it had received from Haryana in respect of SYL.

The cabinet had also reiterated the SAD-BJP alliance government’s firm commitment not to allow even a single drop of its rightful river waters to Haryana.

“Since water is the lifeline of Punjab, so the question of sharing it with anyone does not arise at all and any decision against injustice to river waters of Punjab would never be accepted at any cost,” the cabinet observed.

The Punjab government on Monday had passed a bill in the state assembly seeking to re-vest property rights to the owners of nearly 4000 acres of land from whom it was acquired to construct the main SYL canal, with generous provisions for returning the compensation.

Haryana had paid compensation to the owners of the land at the time of acquisition of the land in Punjab.